Nehemiah 6
Wow. Is this chapter relatable or what?! The constant plotting and lies of the enemies are one thing that all believers can definitely relate to. It's no new thing that the devil opposes the Lord's work and uses his own evil followers to carry out his plans.
1 Corinthians 16:13: "Be on guard; stand firm in your faith; be men of courage; be strong."
Acts 20:28-31 "Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spriit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which He bought with His own blood. I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. So be on guard!"
1 Peter 5:8 "Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour."
1 John 3:8 "He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work."
>the Son of God came to destroy the work of the devil and He most certainly is doing just that!
>the Son of God came to destroy the work of the devil and He most certainly is doing just that!
Ephesians 6:11-12 "Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realm."
Nehemiah knew it was not wise to go to a meeting with his enemy, and besides, he was working on a hard project that the Lord had called him too. Nehemiah may have been thinking, a days walk there and a days walk back from the land of his enemies would be dangerous and more than likely not accomplish peace. He definitely made the right decision and followed the direction of the Lord because he soon found out they were devising plans to hurt him. They were scheming to weaken the leadership of the Jews and slow down or stop the finishing of the wall. Well, the Lord had other plans and he put a stop to their evil schemes and gave Nehemiah the faith and courage to stand his ground.
Verse 5- Letters in those days were written on papyrus or leather parchment and then tied and sealed with clay before they were sent with the messenger. The description of the "unsealed letter" lets us know that it was meant for public access. This unsealed letter would no doubt start rumors and turn other against the Jews.
Verse 6- Boy, can't we relate here! Have you ever had someone say something about you that was so absurdly false you couldn't believe it. That is just like this circumstance. Nehemiah didn't even try to explain the rumors because they were so far beyond the truth. I love how modern day this statement seems: "Nothing like what you are saying is happening; you are just making it up out of your head." Can't you just hear someone saying that: "What are you talking about, you are just making stuff up."
Verse 9- Oh the power of prayer. Nehemiah recognized what they were doing, and prayed against it. Prayed against the evil schemes and the devil's work. "Now strengthen my hands!" I can picture him standing there with his elbows bent, palms facing up shaking his hand while shouting this aloud. Amen, Nehemiah! Amen!
Verses 10-13- There they go scheming again. This time it was a pretty good plan. Had Nehemiah not been on top of his game, had he not know exactly what the law states, had the Lord not given him wisdom he might have fallen for it. With all good intentions he might have thought that message was truly from the Lord and that the Lord would protect him using the temple.
>It's unknown why Nehemiah went to Shemaiah's house. The text says Shemaiah was shut up or confined to his home, so he could have been pretending to be sick and in need of Nehemiah's prayers or he very well could have been acting scared and was hiding in his house from danger. Either way Nehemiah saw right through the acting. God's law stated it was a sin to enter the temple if you were not a priest. He would have sinned if he had listened to Shemaiah, and in turn would have lost respect and discouraged the Jews.
>Shemaiah may have been priest, which would add to the lure for Nehemiah. If iI had been in that situation and Shemaiah was a priest and said those things to me- I would be quick to believe him. Just like if a pastor in present time were to tell me something now, I would be quick to believe them. That is why I have got to stay in the word. I have got to know what my Lord says to me and commands of me. I have got to be on guard for false teachers and distorted truths!
2 Peter 2:1-3 "But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them- bringing swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping."
Proverbs 11:3 "The integrity of the upright guides them, but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them."
Verse 14- I am definitely someone that would want to take action and do something about what was going on with Nehemiah and all of the false things they had been saying. I'm sure Nehemiah had desires to do the same thing, but he gave it to the Lord and continued his work. He prayed the Lord would remember their evil deeds and would take action. Nehemiah knew the work of Tobaih, Sanballat and the rest of the false prophets was not only against Nehemiah but against the Lord. He knew the Lord would fight for him.
Verses 15-16 - WOW. The wall was completed in fifty-two days! Thats incredible! If I had been their enemy I would be afraid as well because it is evident the work was of the Lord! I love when the Lord works miracles like that for His glory so that no one can deny!
Verses 17-19- HA, there they go again trying to thwart the Lord's work. Too bad our God is Lord of all and His will WILL BE DONE! AMEN!
If you have anything to add or any questions about Nehemiah 6 then please feel free to leave a comment. I'll get back with any questions as soon as I ask someone wiser than me;) Have a wonderful day! Love, Devon
Nehemiah knew it was not wise to go to a meeting with his enemy, and besides, he was working on a hard project that the Lord had called him too. Nehemiah may have been thinking, a days walk there and a days walk back from the land of his enemies would be dangerous and more than likely not accomplish peace. He definitely made the right decision and followed the direction of the Lord because he soon found out they were devising plans to hurt him. They were scheming to weaken the leadership of the Jews and slow down or stop the finishing of the wall. Well, the Lord had other plans and he put a stop to their evil schemes and gave Nehemiah the faith and courage to stand his ground.
Verse 5- Letters in those days were written on papyrus or leather parchment and then tied and sealed with clay before they were sent with the messenger. The description of the "unsealed letter" lets us know that it was meant for public access. This unsealed letter would no doubt start rumors and turn other against the Jews.
Verse 6- Boy, can't we relate here! Have you ever had someone say something about you that was so absurdly false you couldn't believe it. That is just like this circumstance. Nehemiah didn't even try to explain the rumors because they were so far beyond the truth. I love how modern day this statement seems: "Nothing like what you are saying is happening; you are just making it up out of your head." Can't you just hear someone saying that: "What are you talking about, you are just making stuff up."
Verse 9- Oh the power of prayer. Nehemiah recognized what they were doing, and prayed against it. Prayed against the evil schemes and the devil's work. "Now strengthen my hands!" I can picture him standing there with his elbows bent, palms facing up shaking his hand while shouting this aloud. Amen, Nehemiah! Amen!
Verses 10-13- There they go scheming again. This time it was a pretty good plan. Had Nehemiah not been on top of his game, had he not know exactly what the law states, had the Lord not given him wisdom he might have fallen for it. With all good intentions he might have thought that message was truly from the Lord and that the Lord would protect him using the temple.
>It's unknown why Nehemiah went to Shemaiah's house. The text says Shemaiah was shut up or confined to his home, so he could have been pretending to be sick and in need of Nehemiah's prayers or he very well could have been acting scared and was hiding in his house from danger. Either way Nehemiah saw right through the acting. God's law stated it was a sin to enter the temple if you were not a priest. He would have sinned if he had listened to Shemaiah, and in turn would have lost respect and discouraged the Jews.
>Shemaiah may have been priest, which would add to the lure for Nehemiah. If iI had been in that situation and Shemaiah was a priest and said those things to me- I would be quick to believe him. Just like if a pastor in present time were to tell me something now, I would be quick to believe them. That is why I have got to stay in the word. I have got to know what my Lord says to me and commands of me. I have got to be on guard for false teachers and distorted truths!
2 Peter 2:1-3 "But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them- bringing swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping."
Proverbs 11:3 "The integrity of the upright guides them, but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them."
Verse 14- I am definitely someone that would want to take action and do something about what was going on with Nehemiah and all of the false things they had been saying. I'm sure Nehemiah had desires to do the same thing, but he gave it to the Lord and continued his work. He prayed the Lord would remember their evil deeds and would take action. Nehemiah knew the work of Tobaih, Sanballat and the rest of the false prophets was not only against Nehemiah but against the Lord. He knew the Lord would fight for him.
Verses 15-16 - WOW. The wall was completed in fifty-two days! Thats incredible! If I had been their enemy I would be afraid as well because it is evident the work was of the Lord! I love when the Lord works miracles like that for His glory so that no one can deny!
Verses 17-19- HA, there they go again trying to thwart the Lord's work. Too bad our God is Lord of all and His will WILL BE DONE! AMEN!
If you have anything to add or any questions about Nehemiah 6 then please feel free to leave a comment. I'll get back with any questions as soon as I ask someone wiser than me;) Have a wonderful day! Love, Devon
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